Clarins is a globally respected beauty brand known for its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and responsible business practices. As a proud B Corp organisation, Clarins consistently demonstrates high social and environmental performance, integrating sustainability into every aspect of its operations. With a long-standing reputation for excellence, the company is dedicated to making a positive impact while simultaneously delivering high-quality skincare and makeup products.
Clarins had decided to refresh their end-user devices across multiple departments and locations within the UK, in an effort to maintain efficiency and performance. However, as a company dedicated to sustainability, they needed to achieve this in a way that fully aligned with their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework as well as their B Corp certification. Any solution had to meet stringent environmental standards while ensuring minimal disruption to daily operations.
Following discussions with the Reliable team, we identified an opportunity to integrate remanufactured devices into the refresh strategy. By partnering with Circular Computing, a leader in sustainable IT solutions, we could reduce electronic waste and environmental impact. The challenge was to implement these changes seamlessly, ensuring users experienced minimal disruption.
Reliable provided a fully managed solution, starting with an in-depth technical discovery, architecture and design phase. We analysed the existing device inventory, assessed performance needs, and developed a tailored refresh plan to ensure a smooth transition to new devices.
To align with Clarins’ sustainability goals, we partnered with Circular Computing to source a selection of high-quality remanufactured Dell Latitude laptops. These devices provided the same level of performance as new ‘off the shelf’ alternatives, but with a much lower environmental footprint.
Before rolling out the full deployment, we conducted a pilot phase, introducing a small batch of remanufactured devices to test the process and gather user feedback. This allowed us to refine and tweak the approach to ensure that the transition would be as seamless and successful as possible.
Once the pilot phase was successfully completed, we executed a full-scale deployment across all departments and locations. Our Senior Technical Consultants oversaw every aspect of the refresh, ensuring all devices were configured correctly and integrated smoothly into Clarins’ IT environment.
Onsite IT Consultants were also present throughout the rollout. They provided essential hands-on support to address any immediate concerns or uncertainties from the team, and assist users in adapting confidently to the new devices. We optimised the new device environment to enhance functionality, ensuring that performance remained consistent while maximising the sustainability benefits.
Clear and transparent communication was a key focus throughout the project. We kept the management team informed at every stage, while maintaining regular contact with end-users to address concerns and provide timely updates on progress. This approach ensured that all stakeholder expectations were aligned, reinforcing trust and confidence in the device transition process.
After a final project review, it was clear that all objectives had been successfully met. Feedback from key stakeholders and users was overwhelmingly positive, with Clarins noting significant improvements in both performance and environmental impact. The project delivered measurable sustainability results. These included the sequestration of 1,800 kg of carbon emissions, helping to compensate for the embodied carbon from the original manufacture of each laptop. Additionally, 9,480 kg of carbon was saved by opting for remanufactured devices rather than new ones.
Beyond carbon savings, the project preserved 36,000 kg of valuable resources, including critical minerals that would otherwise have been extracted for new laptop production. It also saved 5,700,000 litres of water that would have been required to manufacture brand-new hardware.
This project highlighted Clarins’ dedication to reducing its environmental footprint while maintaining operational excellence. The collaboration between Reliable’s technical consultants, onsite IT specialists, project managers, and account teams ensured a smooth, disruption-free transition. More than just a device refresh, this project was a statement of Clarins’ commitment to sustainability, proving that businesses can embrace technology while staying true to their beliefs and values.
